De la Rosa replaces Perez for Canada

Pedro de la Rosa will replace Sergio Perez for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

Perez was involved in a heavy shunt in Monaco qualifying, and was ruled out of the race. He returned to the cockpit in Friday practice today, but withdrew after the first session, after he reported feeling sick.

As a precaution, the team have decided to replace him for this weekend. Regular test driver Esteban Gutierrez was not in Montreal this weekend, so he has lost his chance to drive an F1 car for the first time.

A statement from Perez reads as follows:

"Of course I wanted to drive and I had no doubt I was alright.
But apparently this is unfortunately not the case.
I am deeply disappointed. I spoke to the team after the session
and told them that I’m not a hundred per cent fit. I only want
to drive when I’m a hundred per cent well. I need some more time
to recover."

McLaren have allowed their reserve driver De la Rosa the chance to drive the C30 this weekend.

De la Rosa drove for Peter Sauber’s outfit last year, before he was dumped with 5 races to go, and replaced by Nick Heidfeld.